India reported over half of global ransomware attacks

Ransomware attacks have increased significantly around the world, and India has seen a major impact in 2024. A report by Check Point highlights this surge, noting that India was responsible for more than half of the phishing activity associated with these attacks. In the last quarter of 2024 alone, ransomware incidents rose sharply. The report states that globally, there were 5,414 ransomware attacks, marking an 11% rise compared to the year before. The U.S. faced the most attacks at 936, while India ranked fifth with 44 incidents. The business services sector was the most targeted, followed by retail and manufacturing. The construction industry saw a dramatic increase in attacks, rising by 50% from the previous year and surpassing other sectors like finance and healthcare. Several factors have contributed to the rise in ransomware attacks. The Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model has made it easier for inexperienced attackers to launch sophisticated operations. Groups like RansomHub were particularly active, carrying out 531 attacks. Additionally, the ransomware landscape is changing. Major players have been taken down, leading to more competition among smaller groups. Attackers are also adapting by targeting different systems, including Linux and VMware, and utilizing cloud tools and artificial intelligence to increase their effectiveness.